Translucent panel



Patented Sept. 18, 1934 UNITED s'r-A'nszs 1; Y TRANsLUoENTrANEL Donald S. Barrows, Rochester, N. Y.

Application November 7, 1930, Serial No.V 494,171 s claims] (ci. 41-21) The invention relates to a panel particularly designed and adapted for use in connection with electric or other lightsv and has for its general ,l object the provision of a novel translucent panel '1fvide a composite panel including a base of clear or colored transparent or translucent material together with a superposed layer of translucent material of laminated character, the different ,I lamin of which will operate to refract or other- 15 `Wise divert light rays passing through it for obtaining a diffused effect.

Another object of the invention is to provide a panel having an artificial transparent or transy vvlucent base and a superposed translucent layer of zgrnatural material, the two substances having their characteristics combined to effect a diffusion of the light and to produce an artistic and ornamental light effect which will be not only pleasing but also restful to the eye of the observer.

' A further object of the invention is to provide a light transmitting panel which may include a colorless or colored glass plate or pane and a superposed layer or sheet of mica preferably of the more or less mottled and translucent Variety which is frequently unsuitable for the usual commercial uses on account of its lack of clearness and uniformity.

A still further object is to provide a light transmitting and diusing panel of this character in which the elements may be held in their proper relation by any suitable means.

An additional object is to provide a panel of this characterl which will be simple and inexpensive to make, easy to assemble, efficient in use, attractive in appearance, and a general improvement in the art.

To the attainment of the foregoing and other lobjects and advantages, the invention preferably consists in the details of construction and the arrangement and combination of parts to be hereinafter more fully described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure 1 is an elevation of a panel constructed in accordance With my invention, parts being broken away, and

Figure 2 is a cross sectional view on a larger jscale.

Referring more particularly to the drawing I have shown my panel as comprising a pane or sheet of glass 10, a superposed layer of translucent material 1l vandretaining ineansfl2., The glass pane l10 may be fully transparenter Vof a; type which is only translucent, depending'upon the 'preference cf the manufacturer andthe intended use, an'dt may be either clear and colorless or of any desired color whatsoever depending upon the effect desired. The superposed layer 11 is preferably a sheet of mica of any appropriate thickness and to obtain the most attractive relsults it is advantageously of a cloudy, smoky or mottled type, such for instance as the Variety commonly known as pearl mica. The mica sheet lies flat against the glass base and may conceivably be secured thereto by a suitable adhesive, possibly Canadian balsam, or the superposed elements may be retained in their proper relation and prevented from relative shifting by means of the binder or frame indicated at 12, this frame being represented as channel shaped in cross section so as to overlie both sheets of material at the edges thereof. Details as to this feature and the shape and dimensions of the panel are obviously immaterial as there may be so many variations and modifications in these respects.

Assuming that the panel has been constructed in this manner it is to be understood that it is very appropriate for use in lighting fixtures orl in fact Wherever it is desired to modify and diffuse the light emanating from any ordinary source and at the same time to obtain an attractive effect. Regardless of the exact character of the base pane 10 I have found that light transmitted therethrough and passing through the mica sheet is thoroughly diffused so that the entire panel possesses a luminous effect throughout instead of the light being concentrated at a limited area on the panel between the light source and the eye of the observer. The reason for this is probably that the mica consisting naturally of a. multiplicity of laminae refracts the light rays on a wide variety of angles. In addition to this diffusion effect any veins, spots, mottling or color variations in the mica will become Visible and if such are present they will break up the uniformity of th luminous appearance of the panel and consequently avoid a monotonous effect.

From the foregoing description and a study of the drawing it will be apparent that I have thus provided a simple and inexpensive panel which is very suitable for use in lighting fixtures or the like on account of its mechanical and ornamental characteristics. It is thought that the construction and advantages should be readily apparent to one skilled in the art without further explanation.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of the invention and have mentioned certain alternatives it should be understood that the right is reserved to make all such changes in the details as will not depart from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims hereunto appended.

Having thus described the invention, I claim:

1. A panel ofthe character described comprising a rigid light transmitting base'iormed of a pane of glass, and a sheet of mica substantially coextensve therewith superposed thereon.Y

2. A panel of the character described comprising a rigid light transmitting base formed of a pane of glass, and a sheet of mica substantially coextensive therewith superposedv thereon and consisting of a plurality of larninae.=

3. A panel of the character described `compris' ing a rigid light transmitting base formed of a pane of glass, and a sheet of mica substantially coextensive therewith superposed thereon consisting of aplurality of laminee and of a translucent character..

4. A translucent panel comprising a rigid light transmitting base formed of a pane of transparent glass, and a coextensve superposed layer of translucent mica.

5. A translucent panel comprising a rigid light transmitting base formed of a sheet of colored transparent glass, and a superposed substantially coeXtensiVe layer of translucent mica.

6. A translucent panel comprising a rigid light transmitting base formed of a sheet of colored transparent glass, and a superposed substantially coextensivelayer of translucentmicawof a contrasting color.

7. A translucent panel comprising a rigid light transmitting base formed of a sheet of colored transparent glass, and a superposed substantially coextensive layer of translucent Inica of the pearl type. 

